If you lament the lack of legal sports betting sites in your state, let us fill you in on the next generation of social sportsbooks. After all, they could be exactly what passionate sports fans like yourself have been waiting for.
Offering the chance to place picks on your favorite teams, social sports betting apps and sites like Thrillz, Legendz, Fliff and Pickem have changed the game for millions of sports fans here in the US. On this page we’ll quarterback exactly how these social sports betting sites work, what they offer, and how to find the best platform for you.
Although the number of legal sports betting sites in the US is steadily increasing, the reality is that many states maintain a blanket ban on real money sports betting – bad news if you’re looking to back your favorite teams and sports stars.
Happily, though, there are now several social sports betting options that are helping to fill the void. These innovative new social casino sites mimic the excitement of real sportsbook play within the remit of current anti-gambling regulations, so players can place picks on their beloved teams without fear of overstepping the mark.
You might be sitting there thinking, what exactly is the point in social sportsbooks? After all, with real-money betting off the table, surely that means there’s no real impetus to sign up and place virtual currency bets on these unique sites, right?
In much the same ways as some of the social casinos, things aren’t quite as black and white as “no money = no fun”. We think there are actually plenty of benefits to joining a social sportsbook, which we’ve detailed for you here.
If sport is your passion, discussing it is probably second nature. So, why would you turn down the chance to chat with like-minded sports fans about all things football, basketball, baseball, and similar?
The top social sportsbooks give you the platform to wax lyrical about your favorite teams to people who are actually interested. Most sportsbooks of this ilk feature in-built forums and chat rooms where sports fans can thrash out strategies, pick tips, and more.
OK, so while it isn’t possible to place bets with real money on social sportsbooks, there is the possibility of winning real prizes. That’s all thanks to sweepstakes integrations, which allow players to collect special free sweepstakes coins that can be redeemed for prizes like cash, gift cards, and merchandise.
If you’re familiar with sweepstakes casinos, social sportsbook sweeps work in much the same way. Social bettors are required to collect enough sweeps coins to meet the minimum redemption requirement, at which time they can make a request to exchange the tokens for a prize. Note, too, that a playthrough requirement may also apply, stipulating how many times a sweeps coin must be used before it’s eligible for redemption.
Much like with the social media casinos, not all social sports betting sites feature a sweepstakes element. So if this is a feature you’re specifically interested in, check that a brand offers it before you sign up.
Read more in our guide – how do sweepstakes work?
When signing up at a social sportsbook for the first time, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the sheer volume of sports markets on offer. It would be easy to assume that with no real-money wagering on the table, social-only sportsbooks would scrimp on the number of sports they cover, but no: the choice is often extremely comprehensive.
From homegrown favorites like the NBA and NFL to international fixtures in soccer, tennis, rugby, and similar, the sky’s the limit on the social sports picks available – great news if you follow a vast array of different sports and teams.
The US social sports betting market is growing exponentially, as more passionate sports fans realize the benefit of these unique platforms. Indeed, there is now a small handful of trusted social-only sportsbooks to choose from, with more guaranteed to be launching in the months and years ahead.
So, with that in mind, what features and functions should you look for from a social sports betting platform? To give you an idea, here are a few things we would personally add to our wishlist.
| Features 🌟 | Worth noting 👇 |
|---|---|
| Sports variety | Sportsbooks are not all made equal, so be sure the app you choose features all your favorite sports, fixtures, and then some. One of the most enjoyable aspects of joining a social sports betting site is having the freedom to place picks on unfamiliar fixtures and events, so I’d look for sites with the biggest range of markets possible. |
| Sweepstakes mode | I’ve already mentioned the concept of sweepstakes being an element of social sportsbooks, so if you like the sound of being able to claim real prizes, this is definitely something to look for. Be sure to check out a brand’s sweepstakes rules before you sign up, as they’ll contain important T&Cs you need to know about. |
| Leaderboards and gamification | To amp up the fun factor and bring out your competitive side, the top social sportsbooks typically feature additional gamification features, including interactive leaderboards and similar. Seeking out bonus features like these is super important, particularly if you’re only joining in for fun. |
| Bonuses and deals | Bonuses on social sports betting sites take the form of sign-up promotions, daily access bonuses, and regular free picks on your favorite sports teams. Such deals can prove particularly valuable if you’re trying for sweepstakes prizes. |
| Challenges and chat features | Community is a big part of the popularity of social sportsbooks, with some apps featuring forums, live chat, and “challenge a friend” functionality. |
Based in Denver, Thrillz is one of the popular option for a mobile-based social sportsbook. With dedicated apps for both Apple (iOS) and Android devices, customers across 37 states can enjoy the Thrillz offering. It includes a selection of popular sports to bet on, with a commensurate number of betting markets for each individual fixture.
The welcome bonus offers customers a great opportunity to get started on the site, and there is a great value first purchase bonus on site too. Customers can also top up their balances with free daily bonuses, refer a friend bonuses and through moving through the VIP scheme.
With a simple sign up process that will get you started in no time, it is easy to see why Thrillz social sportsbook is one of the popular choices for mobile social gamers.
Legendz is one of the more recent additions to the social sportsbook and casino scene, but our review of the site revealed plenty of positives. This includes a fantastic selection of social sports betting options, with over 30 different sports to select from and a vast range of markets on individual fixtures, including all the popular bets, and plenty of less common markets available too.
In terms of promotions, as outlined in our Legendz review, this site tends to offer three major options. There’s a generous welcome bonus, a daily bonus and the VIP scheme, which offers a series of incremental rewards. All these bonuses offer customers the chance to pick up Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins.
Signing up is quick and easy and you can access the site across more than 40 states in the U.S. Sweeps Coins offers two forms of prize redemption.
When we were researching the latest social sports betting platforms, one site jumped out as a clear-cut favorite: Fliff. This gaming app ticks all the right boxes, with a huge choice of sports pick markets, social and sweepstakes gaming modes, daily bonuses and free picks, and tons of exciting loyalty rewards.
Getting started with Fliff couldn’t be simpler, either. The brand has gone to great pains to make its iOS and Android apps as intuitive and user-friendly as possible, so we had no difficulty signing up and getting started placing my first sports wagers. Toggling between just-for-fun and sweepstakes mode is also a doddle, while the in-built ‘Challenge a Friend’ feature should definitely appeal to the most competitive sports fans out there.
If fantasy sports are your thing, then Pickem social casino and fantasy sports is a great option, especially for mobile users with dedicated apps available for iOS and Android. With a wide range of social fantasy sports gaming options, with a unique and impressive user-interface, it is easy to see why this site appeals to a broad spectrum of social gamers and bettors.
Part of that appeal is an incredibly good value welcome offer, which sees customers rewarded with 1,000,000 Gold Coins when signing up, plus 50 free Sweeps Coins too. There is then an additional, optional, 500% first purchase option available for new customers.
With a wide range of fantasy sports covered from NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS and many more, plus a dedicated social casino from the same app, it is easy to see why so many customers are picking and sticking with Pickem.
If you live in a US state with no legal sports betting options, the likes of Fliff, Thrillz, Legendz and Pickem should prove an exciting proposition. These legal, socially-minded platforms allow for an authentic sports betting experience that feels close to the real thing, so you can finally back your favorite teams or players without fear of breaking the law and enjoying free-to-play casino slots as well.
Of course, there are a few caveats to cover here, not least the fact that real-money gambling is still off the table. We would also encourage you to check out a brand’s T&Cs before you commit, particularly any wording that relates to sweepstakes redemption processes, play limits, and prohibited jurisdictions.
Absolutely! In fact, apps like Fliff, Thrillz, Pickem and Legendz were developed specifically with the US sports market in mind, so you can enjoy peace of mind that things are legit and above board.
You’ll find similar sports markets on sites like Fliff and Pickem than on regular sports betting sites. That includes American football, basketball, baseball, and soccer, among many others.
Sort of. Although real-money betting is off the cards, some social platforms do give players the chance to redeem sweepstakes tokens for real prizes like merchandise, cash and gift cards.
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